Snap!
As soon as she had snapped her fingers, all received a boost of 2 in their overall grade score.
They all gave a bow of thanks to Maiyu.
'Yes! 7 more to go before I catch up with Rumi!' Asahi clenched his fist and whooped at the prospect.
With the boost, they all temporarily forgot about the presentation and were all ecstatic about the free boost they had gotten for doing nothing.
Tria held onto her hood as she leaned on a pillar with Suzi beside her, guarding her against the others who tried to thank them for the opportunity they had given.
Asahi pulled on Rumi's wrist as they tried to sneak out.
"Where do you two think you're going?" Tenji created a barrier in front of Asahi which made him collide face first.
Holding his nose, he narrowed his eyes when Rumi pulled her hands away from his and stood in front of Tenji with a wide smile.
"I would never do that, professor Tenji." Rumi nodded her head and awaited what he wanted to say.
Tenji let out a sigh and shook his head at her attitude. She was still going through the phase, but she had managed to prove she could be useful and he was not going to back up from his words.
Sharing a knowing look with Maiyu, she had a smirk as she looked at the two students. "Please step forward."
She gestured at the two towards the high-rise platform.
Asahi was reluctant to be there once again without having a valid reason to be there.
"There's no need to be scared, it's not like we can bite." Tenji gave an awkward smile that only increased Asahi's anxiety.
"Are you sure it's alright if we meet them? Why are we the only ones being singled out from the rest?" Asahi whispered to Rumi and pulled on her arm so she could concentrate on the most important aspect.
Rumi shook her head and clicked her tongue, "don't you get it? They would like to reward us for our ingenuity."
Tenji nodded his head to Rumi's words, this would allow him to get closer to both parties and test out his theory.
Observing the reluctance, Maiyu got down by walking the stairs and covering their distance with long strides.
All focus was on them as they watched the headmistress place her hands on their heads, her thumbs pressed onto their foreheads.
Rumi and Asahi's eyes and mouths glowed as they received a boost in their grade.
[Grade 24`⁵]
[Grade 17`⁵]
This was seen by all for a few seconds and some heads were still raised to the shocking revelation of what this would mean for all.
The rest of the students let out a gasp in shock at the increase, this had just made Rumi with the highest rank in all of Erīto.
Asahi was genuinely grateful that he had been able to cross the mark of being in the 10th grade score.
"Ha! In your face!" Asahi blew a raspberry at Rumi.
Now he could maintain a hold on her mana for some while if ever she tries to pull a fast one on him with her portal ability.
Miku jumped out from the crowd and latched her hands around Rumi's waist, "I knew you deserved this!"
Rumi had wanted to push Miku off her but felt reluctant to do so after she saw genuine happiness for her achievement, one that she had not seen in any apart from Tenji and Asahi.
Instinctively, she patted Miku like a child and smiled but couldn't help but blurt out, "you do feel like you could be the youngest sister."
"Headmistress Maiyu, I would like to speak with the two in private." Tenji gave a slight bow and raised his head slowly as he showed a wicked smile for her to see.
Maiyu raised a brow and wondered what he could be planning but being curious, she nodded her head.
Tenji had a big smile and turned toward Rumi and Asahi. Without another word, he walked towards the two and pulled them in the direction of the exit.
Ignoring the murmuring students and equally the professors, the door automatically flung open allowing easier access for them.
Rumi had a smile at his touch as he pulled on her with her eyes latched on his hands. Asahi rolled his eyes at the attitude displayed by Rumi toward their professor.
'Why are you mysteriously strong? What is the true source of your power?' Asahi glared daggers at the back of Tenji.
Tenji stopped the moment he felt a negative emotion come from his right, pulling Asahi forward. "Do you have anything you would like to iron out?"
Asahi looked to Rumi for assistance, but all he got was an equally confused look.
Gathering up his courage, he nodded and spoke out, "as a normal person would think," he paused and inhaled.
"Why did you single the two of us out?" He accused, yanking his hand away from Tenji.
Tenji let go of Rumi's hand to her disappointment, he had a smirk at the accusation.
Turning his attention to Rumi, he gently placed his arm on her and said: "could you open a portal to my home?"
Rumi's sweat dropped at the request, there was no way he would have asked that if he didn't know that she had stalked him for several days at his home.
Confirming what she feared, Tenji nodded, "yes, I have known for some days now, there's no need to be so stunned."
Rumi let out subtle laughter to mask her nervousness.
"Rumi, what's he talking about? How could you possibly know his home?"
Rumi shot him a glare so he would shut up before he made things worse for her than it already was.
"The black painted wooden chair on the porch where you sit in your free time, right?" Rumi informed knowing he already had an idea of the location from which she would steal glances at him.
Tenji nodded his head to her answer, 'I knew there was no way I was hallucinating while I sat there.'
Looking behind him and at Asahi, "you want some answers? How about we ditch the academy for today?"
*****
A/N
I apologize for the late update, I had been on a trip for some days and was a bit homesick from the experience and a bit of stress.
I would really appreciate your comments and support of this novel with your power stones. Your active comments would motivate me to write more chapters.